Skip to Main Content
Craig E. Leen
Craig E. Leen

Craig E. Leen

Partner
Washington, DC
+1.202.778.9232
Email Craig E. Leen @ Craig.Leen@klgates.com
Download V-Card
Craig E. Leen LinkedIn
Download Craig E. Leen PDF (English)

Craig Leen is a partner in the firm's Labor, Employment, and Workplace Safety practice, where he co-leads the firm’s OFCCP and Affirmative Action Compliance area of focus. His depth of experience spans across federal, state, and local government, as well as the private sector. He is also President-Elect of the Bar Association of the District of Columbia and will serve as the 139th President of the BADC next year.

Prior to joining the firm, Craig served as the Director of the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP), a federal civil rights enforcement agency at the US Department of Labor that regulates federal contractors. In this role, Craig reported directly to the Secretary and Deputy Secretary of Labor in the first Trump Administration, with OFCCP experiencing record years in both enforcement recoveries and compliance assistance. Craig oversaw three rulemakings and issuance of several technical assistance guides to help employers comply with the law, ultimately receiving the Secretary’s Exceptional Achievement Award – Professional for his work helping transform OFCCP. 

As a federal agency head at DOL, Craig worked extensively with numerous other federal agencies, including the Wage & Hour Division (WHD), the Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA), the Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA), the Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP), the Employment Training Administration (ETA), the Office of Apprenticeship (OA), the Civil Rights and Federal Programs Divisions of the US Department of Justice, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), the US Department of Health and Human Services, the US Department of Education, the Office of Management & Budget (OMB), and the Office of Personnel Management (OPM). 

From his leadership experience at OFCCP and US DOL, Craig provides clients who conduct business with the federal government a wealth of experience and insight into the enforcement of equal employment opportunity (EEO), civil rights, and other regulations, including compliance with Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR) and antidiscrimination obligations, with Craig representing companies before federal agencies and in litigation before courts at the trial and appellate levels. 

Likewise, Craig provides frequent advice to clients on developing EEO, public accommodation, and inclusion programs that are compliant with federal antidiscrimination law, such as Title VI, Title VII, Title IX, the Fair Housing Act, and the Americans with Disabilities Act along with other laws, including conducting comprehensive pay equity and promotions self-audits. Many of Craig’s clients are government contractors and fund recipients who must comply with additional obligations based on their receipt of federal or state funds and contracts. Craig advises these clients and represents them before government agencies. 

Further, Craig has extensive experience overseeing internal investigations and employment audits that can help companies in ensuring compliance with applicable civil rights and employment laws, including in the use of artificial intelligence, which is an increasing focus of federal and state regulators. Finally, Craig's knowledge and experience with the regulatory process is of significant value in providing counsel as to agency rulemakings under the Administrative Procedure Act, including advising clients on submitting comments on notices of proposed rulemakings and participating in EO 12866 meetings. 

Craig is frequently consulted by organizations on their disability inclusion, neurodiversity, and accessibility programs, and he is a frequent speaker on disability inclusion in the workplace, in education, and in all aspects of society.

Craig's experiences prior to OFCCP as a government attorney at the municipal and county levels in Florida also provide him a unique vantage point to advise clients on all aspects of regulatory compliance at multiple levels of government.

Finally, Craig is a frequent public speaker and teacher, including as a Professorial Lecturer in Law at the George Washington University Law School, where he teaches Disability Rights Law, Government Lawyering, and Local Government Law, and where he received the Distinguished Adjunct Faculty Teaching Award from the Class of 2025 at graduation. Craig has also been interviewed and quoted on civil rights and equal employment opportunity topics by numerous major publications, including The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, National Public Radio, CNN, Bloomberg, Law360, and SHRM.

Prior to his tenure at OFCCP, Craig served as the City Attorney of Coral Gables, Florida, where he was the general counsel and chief legal officer for a municipality in South Florida. Before becoming City Attorney, Craig served as Chief of Appeals and then Chief of Federal Litigation for Miami-Dade County, one of the largest counties in the United States. Craig is board certified by The Florida Bar in city, county, and local government law.

Craig is well-known for his development of award-winning disability inclusion programs at both OFCCP (Section 503 Focused Review Program) and the City of Coral Gables (Principles of Inclusion). Craig also received the Secretary's Exceptional Achievement Award - Professional for his service at US DOL, and the Paul S. Buchman Award for Outstanding Contribution in the Area of Legal Public Service for his service in local government.

Craig serves as Vice Chair of the District of Columbia Advisory Committee to the US Commission on Civil Rights, as Co-Chair of the District of Columbia Family Support Council, and as Chair of the Civil & Human Rights Committee of the Bar Association of the District of Columbia.

Craig has taught numerous legal subjects as an adjunct professor at US law schools, including Disability Rights Law, Labor Law, State & Local Government Law, Government Lawyering, Legal Drafting (Litigation), and Evidence among other courses. He presently serves as a Professor of Government Lawyering and Professorial Lecturer in Law at The George Washington University Law School, and he has previously taught on the adjunct faculties at Florida International University College of Law, and the University of Miami School of Law. Previously, Craig was an associate at several global law firms and served as a law clerk to the Honorable Robert E. Keeton, US District Judge, District of Massachusetts.

  • Distinguished Adjunct Faculty Teaching Award, George Washington University Law School
  • Recognized with The Honorable Annice M. Wagner Pioneer Award by The Bar Association of the District of Columbia
  • US Secretary of Labor’s Exceptional Achievement Award- Professional for successfully leading the transformation of OFCCP into a more effective organization
  • US Secretary of Labor’s Worker’s Protection Awards (three) for work on two systemic compensation cases and for leading the development of the Section 503/Disability Inclusion Focused Review Program
  • Teamwork Award, along with daughter, for advocacy for disability rights as part of the Melwood Ability Awards at the National Press Club 
  • Special Achievement Award from the American Association for Access, Equity, and Diversity for leadership in advancing the rights of individuals with disabilities in the federal contractor labor force
  • Cruz-Whitehurst Advocacy Award from the UM-NSU Center for Autism and Related Disabilities for work advocating for inclusion of individuals with autism and other disabilities by cities and counties in Florida
  • Paul S. Buchman Award for Outstanding Contribution in the Area of Legal Public Service from the City, County, and Local Government Law Section of The Florida Bar
  • Julie Kay Amicus Award from the Miami-Dade Chapter of the Florida Association for Women Lawyers for bringing attention to critical issues affecting women attorneys
  • Chair’s Service Award from the City, County, and Local Government Law Section of The Florida Bar
  • Proclamations from the City of Coral Gables, Miami-Dade County, and Miami-Dade County Public Schools honoring and recognizing public service
  • Legal Elite, Florida Trend Magazine, 2013, 2014, 2017
  • Legal Luminaries, Finalist, Government Attorney Category (four finalists), Dade County Bar Association
  • Best of Miami, Miami New Times, 2012
  • Named to the Florida Rising Stars list, 2009
  • Initial sponsor of the Parental Leave Continuance Rule in the Florida Rules of Judicial Administration Committee, which was adopted by the Florida Supreme Court and recommended by the American Bar Association
  • Developed a comprehensive disability inclusion and autism acceptance program for Coral Gables and the Coral Gables Police Department that was ultimately adopted by numerous local governments
  • President-Elect, Bar Association of the District of Columbia, 2025-present
  • Member, Board of Trustees, St. Coletta of Greater Washington, 2025-present
  • Member. Board of Directors, Bar Association of the District of Columbia, 2024-present
  • Secretary, Disability Belongs, 2023-present
  • Member, Advisory Council, National Industry Liaison Group (NILG), 2023-present
  • Community Outreach Coordinator, District of Columbia Affairs Community, DC Bar, 2024-present
  • Member, Advisory Board, NYU Center for Labor & Employment Law, 2022-present
  • Member, DC Bar Rules of Professional Conduct Review Committee, 2022-present
  • Chair, Civil & Human Rights Committee, The Bar Association of the District of Columbia, 2022-present
  • Vice Chair, District of Columbia Advisory Committee, US Commission on Civil Rights, 2022-present
  • Member, Disability Belongs Board, 2021-present
  • Member, Friends of Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens Board, 2021-present
  • Member, Eightfold Advisory Board and AI Ethics Council, 2021-present
  • Member, Disability:IN DC Metro Advisory Board, 2021-present
  • Professor of Government Lawyering and Professorial Lecturer in Law, The George Washington University Law School, 2018-present
  • Faculty, The Institute for Workplace Equality, 2021-present
  • Member, Ad Hoc Committee on Rules and Procedures (Local Rules Committee), US District Court for the Southern District of Florida, 2014-present
  • Program Committee Co-Chair, District of Columbia Affairs Community, DC Bar, 2023-24
  • Member, Circa Board of Directors, 2021-23
  • Member, Florida Rules of Judicial Administration Committee, 2015-21 
    • Vice Chair, 2018-20
  • Member, Special Education Parent Advisory Board, District of Columbia Public Schools, 2019-20
  • Member, Florida Appellate Court Rules Committee, 2009-15 
    • Vice Chair, 2014-15
  • Member, Executive Council, City, County, and Local Government Law Section of The Florida Bar, 2013-20
  • Member, Diversity and Inclusion Committee of The Florida Bar, 2016-18
  • Member, Special Committee on Parental Leave in Court Actions, 2016
  • Member, Constituency Board, UM-NSU Center for Autism and Related Disabilities, 2015-17
  • Member, Legal Committee, Miami-Dade County Chiefs of Police, 2011-17
  • Adjunct Professor, University of Miami School of Law, 2013-18
  • Adjunct Professor, Florida International University College of Law, 2012-18
  • Lecturer at Law, Legal Research & Writing Program, University of Miami School of Law, 2004-10

Craig has done over 100 speaking engagements, including keynotes, panel discussions, and TED-style talks, on subjects ranging from equal employment opportunity compliance in the workplace, to disability inclusion, to government ethics. Here are some recent speaking engagements:

Craig is a frequent marathoner and enjoys spending time with his family hiking on trails in the National Capitol Region.

Additional Thought Leadership Pages
Additional News & Event Pages

Craig has hundreds of media mentions in the form of news clips, television interviews, and online content from his work in government. Here are a few examples:

Return to top of page

Email Disclaimer

We welcome your email, but please understand that if you are not already a client of K&L Gates LLP, we cannot represent you until we confirm that doing so would not create a conflict of interest and is otherwise consistent with the policies of our firm. Accordingly, please do not include any confidential information until we verify that the firm is in a position to represent you and our engagement is confirmed in a letter. Prior to that time, there is no assurance that information you send us will be maintained as confidential. Thank you for your consideration.

Accept Cancel